Key with integral biometric input device

ABSTRACT

A key integrates with a biometric input device. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a fingerprint scanner may be integral with a spacebar.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/897,886, filed Oct. 5, 2010, the contents ofwhich are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present application relates generally to input devices and, morespecifically, to keys and biometric input devices and, morespecifically, to integrating a biometric input device with a key.

BACKGROUND

As mobile communication and computing devices become more powerful andhave increased storage, there becomes an increasing potential forsensitive information to be available on a mobile communication and/orcomputing device.

Accordingly, security for such devices has moved beyond merely expectingone or more correct passwords such that many such devices now requirebiometric authentication.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the drawings, which show by way ofexample, embodiments of the present disclosure, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a mobile communication device embodying aspects ofthe present application;

FIG. 2 illustrates a sectional view of the mobile communication deviceof FIG. 1 along line A:A;

FIG. 3 illustrates components of the mobile communication device ofFIGS. 1; and

FIG. 4 illustrates example steps in a method of handling input receivedfrom a key with an integral biometric input device according to aspectsof the present application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Often mobile communication and computing devices are made small forportability. However, as such devices are made smaller, there is reducedspace to include all the features that a designer may wish to include.

Proposed herein is a keyboard that includes at least one key thatintegrates with a biometric input device. For example, a typicalkeyboard includes a spacebar. According to an aspect of the presentdisclosure, a fingerprint scanner may be integral with the spacebar.

In accordance with an aspect of the present application, there isprovided a keyboard input device. The keyboard input device comprises akey and a biometric input device integral with the key.

In accordance with another aspect of the present application, there isprovided a mobile communication device. The mobile communication devicecomprises a keyboard input device including a key and a biometric inputdevice integral with the key.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present application, there isprovided a method of handling input from a key in a keyboard. The methodcomprises receiving input from a key in a keyboard, determining that theinput is a candidate biometric from a biometric input device integral tothe key and processing the candidate biometric.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present application, there isprovided a method of handling input from a key in a keyboard. The methodcomprises receiving input from a key in a keyboard, determining that theinput comprises an indication of a depression event from the key andprocessing the indication of the depression event.

Other aspects and features of the present disclosure will becomeapparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of thefollowing description of specific embodiments of the invention inconjunction with the accompanying figures.

FIG. 1 illustrates a mobile communication device 100 embodying aspectsof the present application. In particular, mobile communication device100 includes a keyboard 124 having a plurality of keys. One of the keyson the illustrated keyboard 124 is a spacebar key 130. Integrated withthe spacebar key 130 is a biometric input device 140. More particularly,the biometric input device 140 may comprise a fingerprint scanner.

FIG. 2 illustrates a sectional view of the mobile communication device100 of FIG. 1 along line A:A. A housing 202 houses a main circuit board204 and the keyboard 124, several keys of which are illustrated insection, including the spacebar key 130. The spacebar key 130 isillustrated as having several components. Among the components of thespacebar key 130 are typical components, such as a key top 206 and a keyplunger 208. Notably, scanner controlling circuits (not shown) for thescanner 210 may be integrated into the main circuit board 204. Thisconfiguration may be considered to facilitate repair or swapping of adefective scanner 210 and/or a defective keyboard 124. Thisconfiguration may also be considered to facilitate the manufacturingprocess.

Distinct from typical spacebar keys, the illustrated spacebar key 130has the integrated biometric input device 140. The integrated biometricinput device 140 includes a scanner 210 and a flex board 212. Theintegrated biometric input device 140 also includes a flex connector 214for connecting the scanner 210 and the flex board 212 to the maincircuit board 204. In one implementation, the scanner 210 is mountedflush with an exposed surface of the key top 206.

FIG. 3 illustrates components of the mobile communication device 100 ofFIG. 1. The mobile communication device 100 includes a housing, an inputdevice (e.g., the keyboard 124) and an output device (e.g., a display126), which may comprise a full graphic, or full color, Liquid CrystalDisplay (LCD). In some embodiments, the display 126 may comprise atouchscreen display. In such embodiments, the keyboard 124 may comprisea virtual keyboard. Other types of output devices may alternatively beutilized. A processing device (a processor 328) is shown schematicallyin FIG. 3 as coupled between the keyboard 124 and the display 126. Theprocessor 328 controls the operation of the display 126, as well as theoverall operation of the mobile communication device 100, in part,responsive to actuation of the keys on the keyboard 124 by a user.

The mobile communication device 100 also includes the biometric inputdevice 140 (e.g., a fingerprint sensor), first illustrated in FIG. 1. Afingerprint sensor comprises an electronic device used to capture adigital image of a fingerprint pattern. The captured image is called alive scan. This live scan may be digitally processed to create abiometric template, which is stored and used for later matching. Some ofthe more commonly used fingerprint sensor technologies include: optical;ultrasonic; and capacitance.

The housing may be elongated vertically, or may take on other sizes andshapes (including clamshell housing structures). Where the keyboard 124includes keys that are associated with at least one alphabetic characterand at least one numeric character, the keyboard 124 may include a modeselection key, or other hardware or software, for switching betweenalphabetic entry and numeric entry.

In addition to the processor 328, other parts of the mobilecommunication device 100 are shown schematically in FIG. 3. These mayinclude a communications subsystem 302, a short-range communicationssubsystem 304, the keyboard 124 and the display 126. The mobilecommunication device 100 may further include other input/output devices,such as a set of auxiliary I/O devices 306, a serial port 308, a speaker311 and a microphone 312. The mobile communication device 100 mayfurther include memory devices including a flash memory 316 and a RandomAccess Memory (RAM) 318 and various other device subsystems 320. Themobile communication device 100 may comprise a two-way radio frequency(RF) communication device having voice and data communicationcapabilities. In addition, the mobile communication device 100 may havethe capability to communicate with other computer systems via theInternet.

Operating system software executed by the processor 328 may be stored ina computer readable medium, such as the flash memory 316, but may bestored in other types of memory devices, such as a read only memory(ROM) or similar storage element. In addition, system software, specificdevice applications, or parts thereof, may be temporarily loaded into avolatile store, such as the RAM 318. Communication signals received bythe mobile device may also be stored to the RAM 318.

The processor 328, in addition to its operating system functions,enables execution of software applications on the mobile communicationdevice 100. A predetermined set of software applications that controlbasic device operations, such as a voice communications module 330A anda data communications module 330B, may be installed on the mobilecommunication device 100 during manufacture. An authentication module330C may also be installed on the mobile communication device 100 duringmanufacture, to implement aspects of the present disclosure. As well,additional software modules, illustrated as an other software module330N, which may be, for instance, a PIM application, may be installedduring manufacture. The PIM application may be capable of organizing andmanaging data items, such as e-mail messages, calendar events, voicemail messages, appointments and task items. The PIM application may alsobe capable of sending and receiving data items via a wireless carriernetwork 370 represented by a radio tower. The data items managed by thePIM application may be seamlessly integrated, synchronized and updatedvia the wireless carrier network 370 with the device user'scorresponding data items stored or associated with a host computersystem.

Communication functions, including data and voice communications, areperformed through the communication subsystem 302 and, possibly, throughthe short-range communications subsystem 304. The communicationsubsystem 302 includes a receiver 350, a transmitter 352 and one or moreantennas, illustrated as a receive antenna 354 and a transmit antenna356. In addition, the communication subsystem 302 also includes aprocessing module, such as a digital signal processor (DSP) 358, andlocal oscillators (LOs) 360. The specific design and implementation ofthe communication subsystem 302 is dependent upon the communicationnetwork in which the mobile communication device 100 is intended tooperate. For example, the communication subsystem 302 of the mobilecommunication device 100 may be designed to operate with the Mobitex™,DataTAC™ or General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) mobile datacommunication networks and also designed to operate with any of avariety of voice communication networks, such as Advanced Mobile PhoneService (AMPS), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Code DivisionMultiple Access (CDMA), Personal Communications Service (PCS), GlobalSystem for Mobile Communications (GSM), Enhanced Data rates for GSMEvolution (EDGE), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS),Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA), High Speed PacketAccess (HSPA), etc. Other types of data and voice networks, bothseparate and integrated, may also be utilized with the mobilecommunication device 100.

Network access requirements vary depending upon the type ofcommunication system. Typically, an identifier is associated with eachmobile device that uniquely identifies the mobile device or subscriberto which the mobile device has been assigned. The identifier is uniquewithin a specific network or network technology. For example, inMobitex™ networks, mobile devices are registered on the network using aMobitex Access Number (MAN) associated with each device and in DataTAC™networks, mobile devices are registered on the network using a LogicalLink Identifier (LLI) associated with each device. In GPRS networks,however, network access is associated with a subscriber or user of adevice. A GPRS device therefore uses a subscriber identity module,commonly referred to as a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card, inorder to operate on a GPRS network. Despite identifying a subscriber bySIM, mobile devices within GSM/GPRS networks are uniquely identifiedusing an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number.

When required network registration or activation procedures have beencompleted, the mobile communication device 100 may send and receivecommunication signals over the wireless carrier network 370. Signalsreceived from the wireless carrier network 370 by the receive antenna354 are routed to the receiver 350, which provides for signalamplification, frequency down conversion, filtering, channel selection,etc., and may also provide analog to digital conversion.Analog-to-digital conversion of the received signal allows the DSP 358to perform more complex communication functions, such as demodulationand decoding. In a similar manner, signals to be transmitted to thewireless carrier network 370 are processed (e.g., modulated and encoded)by the DSP 358 and are then provided to the transmitter 352 for digitalto analog conversion, frequency up conversion, filtering, amplificationand transmission to the wireless carrier network 370 (or networks) viathe transmit antenna 356.

In addition to processing communication signals, the DSP 358 providesfor control of the receiver 350 and the transmitter 352. For example,gains applied to communication signals in the receiver 350 and thetransmitter 352 may be adaptively controlled through automatic gaincontrol algorithms implemented in the DSP 358.

In a data communication mode, a received signal, such as a text messageor web page download, is processed by the communication subsystem 302and is input to the processor 328. The received signal is then furtherprocessed by the processor 328 for output to the display 126, oralternatively to some auxiliary I/O devices 306. A device user may alsocompose data items, such as e-mail messages, using the keyboard 124and/or some other auxiliary I/O device 306, such as a touchpad, a rockerswitch, a thumb-wheel, a trackball, a touchscreen, or some other type ofinput device. The composed data items may then be transmitted over thewireless carrier network 370 via the communication subsystem 302.

In a voice communication mode, overall operation of the device issubstantially similar to the data communication mode, except thatreceived signals are output to the speaker 311, and signals fortransmission are generated by a microphone 312. Alternative voice oraudio I/O subsystems, such as a voice message recording subsystem, mayalso be implemented on the mobile communication device 100. In addition,the display 126 may also be utilized in voice communication mode, forexample, to display the identity of a calling party, the duration of avoice call, or other voice call related information.

The short-range communications subsystem 304 enables communicationbetween the mobile communication device 100 and other proximate systemsor devices, which need not necessarily be similar devices. For example,the short-range communications subsystem may include an infrared deviceand associated circuits and components, or a Bluetooth™ communicationmodule to provide for communication with similarly-enabled systems anddevices.

In overview, the spacebar key 130 in the keyboard 124 of the mobilecommunication device 100 incorporates the biometric input device 140.

It is common for devices of the type of the mobile communication device100 to have a security feature that locks the mobile communicationdevice 100 responsive to various locking trigger events. Such lockingtrigger events may include receipt of a lock command. Such lockingtrigger events may also include receipt of an indication that the mobilecommunication device 100 has entered a holster or other protectivesleeve or covering. Such locking trigger events may also include receiptof an indication that a time since last user input has surpassed apredetermined threshold. Additional locking trigger events may also beused.

To unlock the mobile communication device 100 after the mobilecommunication device 100 has entered a locked mode, it is typical to usethe keyboard 124 to provide a password to an authentication dialogprovided on the display 126.

For the mobile communication device 100 including the biometric inputdevice 140, unlocking the mobile communication device 100 may involveproviding a candidate biometric to the biometric input device 140.Provision of a candidate biometric to the biometric input device 140 mayinvolve a user swiping a pad of a finger across the scanner 210.

The scanner 210 may comprise a “dumb” scanner, that interfaces with thescanner controlling circuits via the flex connector 214. In operation, adevice operating system (through the main circuit board 204 and theprocessor 328) may instruct the scanner controlling circuits to becomeactive and begin accepting biometric input from the scanner 210 via theflex connector 214. As the user swipes a pad of a finger across thescanner 210, the active scanner controlling circuits obtain a pluralityof images and generate a candidate biometric (an image of the finger)from the plurality of images. The active scanner controlling circuitsmay then transfer the candidate biometric to the processor 328 forcomparison to a stored biometric template.

It should be clear that, during normal unlocked usage of the mobilecommunication device 100, operation of the scanner 210 may not berequired. Accordingly, the scanner controlling circuits may beconfigured to generally remain powered down to save battery energy.

It has been discussed hereinbefore that the device operating system mayinstruct the scanner controlling circuits to become active and beginaccepting biometric input from the scanner 210 for the formation of acandidate biometric. Such biometric input may also be required toestablish a stored biometric template. In addition to unlocking themobile communication device 100, biometric input may also be useful, forexample, as the mobile communication device 100 determined whether toallow access to a cryptographically secured e-mail message.

The mobile communication device 100 may unlock itself responsive to anunlocking trigger event. Such unlocking trigger events may includereceipt of an indication that a received candidate biometric matches astored biometric template. Such unlocking trigger events may alsoinclude receipt of a candidate password that matches a stored password.Such unlocking trigger events may also include receipt of an indicationthat a received candidate biometric matches a stored biometric templatein combination with receipt of a candidate password that matches astored password. Additional unlocking trigger events may also be used. Asecurity policy resident on the mobile communication device 100 mayspecify the requirements for successfully unlocking the mobilecommunication device 100.

The authentication module 330C includes a biometric matching softwarecomponent. The biometric matching software component is used to analyzeor compare candidate biometrics scanned by the biometric input device140 in reference to stored biometric templates.

Code for the authentication module 330C, including code for thebiometric matching software component and code for handling inputreceived at the processor 328 from the spacebar key 130 with theintegrated biometric input device 140, may be temporarily loaded into avolatile storage medium such as the RAM 318.

FIG. 4 illustrates example steps in a method of handling input receivedfrom the spacebar key 130 with the integrated biometric input device140. Initially, an input of an unknown type is received (step 402) fromthe spacebar key 130 with the integrated biometric input device 140. Theprocessor 328 may determine the type of the received input bydetermining (step 404) whether the input is a candidate biometric formedby the biometric input device 140 or by determining (step 410) whetherthe input is an indication of a spacebar key 130 depression event.Notably, the order of these determinations is presented in one manner,but the skilled person will recognize that the order is unimportant andmay be reversed.

Upon determining (step 404) that the input is a candidate biometric, theprocessor 328 may determine (step 406) whether the mobile communicationdevice 100 is locked. Upon determining (step 406) that the mobilecommunication device 100 is locked, the processor 328 may process (step408) the candidate biometric. When processing (step 408) the candidatebiometric, the processor 328, executing the biometric matching softwarecomponent, may compare a stored fingerprint template to the receivedcandidate fingerprint and determine a result of the comparing. Thoughnot illustrated in FIG. 4, the processor 328 may unlock the mobilecommunication device 100 based on the result of the comparing. Upondetermining (step 406) that the mobile communication device 100 is notlocked, the processor 328 may ignore (step 409) the candidate biometric.

Upon determining (step 404) that the input is not a candidate biometric,the processor 328 may determine (step 410) whether the input is anindication of a spacebar key 130 depression event.

Upon determining (step 410) that the input is an indication of aspacebar key 130 depression event, the processor 328 may determine (step412) whether the mobile communication device 100 is locked. Upondetermining (step 412) that the mobile communication device 100 is notlocked, the processor 328 may process (step 416) the indication of aspacebar key 130 depression event. For example, such processing mayinvolve the processor 328 arranging the insertion of a space characterin a document being edited. Upon determining (step 412) that the mobilecommunication device 100 is locked, the processor 328 may ignore (step414) the indication of a spacebar key 130 depression event.

Even while the mobile communication device 100 locked, theauthentication user interface may allow for the placement of anemergency call.

The mobile communication device 100 may be configured to erase itsmemory (316, 318, see FIG. 3) after a certain number of unsuccessfulscans in a predetermined time period. Notably, a number of unsuccessfulscans in a predetermined time period may be representative of aninoperative or simply dirty biometric input device 140. Rather thanerase its memory responsive to a number of unsuccessful scan, the mobilecommunication device 100 may be configured to request an alternateunlocking trigger event, such as entry of a candidate password using thekeyboard 124.

It has been mentioned hereinbefore that, in some embodiments, thedisplay 126 may comprise a touchscreen display and that, in suchembodiments, the keyboard 124 may comprise a virtual keyboard. It isnotable that a biometric input device may be integral with a key, evenif the key is merely a virtual key that is part of a virtual keyboardpresented on the display 126. Indeed, the display 126 may have a degreeof translucence and the scanner 210 may be mounted under the display 126in a predetermined location.

The above-described embodiments of the present application are intendedto be examples only. Alterations, modifications and variations may beeffected to the particular embodiments by those skilled in the artwithout departing from the scope of the application, which is defined bythe claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mobile communication device comprising: aninput device including: a key; and a biometric input device integralwith said key; and a processor adapted to: receive first input from saidinput device; determine that said first input comprises a candidatebiometric from said biometric input device and then: determine that saidmobile communication device is locked; responsive to determining thatsaid mobile communication device is locked, process said candidatebiometric; receive second input from said key; determine that saidsecond input does not comprise candidate biometric; and determine thatsaid second input comprises an indication of a depression event fromsaid key.
 2. The mobile communication device of claim 1 wherein said keycomprises a spacebar.
 3. The mobile communication device of claim 1wherein said biometric input device comprises a fingerprint scanner. 4.The mobile communication device of claim 1 wherein said key comprises akey top and a key plunger.
 5. The mobile communication device of claim 4wherein said biometric input device comprises a scanner, a flex boardand a flex connector for connecting said scanner and said flex board toa mobile communication device main circuit board.
 6. The mobilecommunication device of claim 5 wherein said scanner is mounted flushwith an exposed surface of said key top.
 7. The mobile communicationdevice of claim 1 wherein said processor is further adapted to:determine that said mobile communication device is locked; andresponsive to determining that said mobile communication device islocked, ignore said indication of said depression event.
 8. A method ofhandling input from a key of a mobile communication device, said methodcomprising: receiving first input from a key; determining that saidfirst input comprises a candidate biometric from a biometric inputdevice integral with said key and then: determining that said mobilecommunication device is locked; responsive to determining that saidmobile communication device is locked, processing said candidatebiometric; receiving second input from said key; determining that saidsecond input does not comprise candidate biometric; determining thatsaid second input comprises an indication of a depression event fromsaid key.
 9. The method of claim 8 further comprising storing, on themobile communication device, a policy specifying requirements forunlocking the mobile communication device.
 10. The method of claim 8wherein processing said candidate biometric comprises comparing a storedbiometric template to said candidate fingerprint.
 11. The method ofclaim 10 further comprising: determining that said candidate biometricdoes not match said stored biometric template; incrementing a count ofunsuccessful scans; determining that said count of unsuccessful scansexceeds a threshold; and responsive to said determining that said countof unsuccessful scans exceeds a threshold, erasing a memory of saidmobile communication device.
 12. The method of claim 8 furthercomprising: determining that said mobile communication device is locked;and responsive to determining that said mobile communication device islocked, ignoring said indication of said depression event.
 13. Anon-transitory computer-readable medium containing computer-executableinstructions that, when performed by a processor in an electronicdevice, cause the processor to: receive first input from a key;determine that said first input comprises a candidate biometric from abiometric input device integral with said key and then: determine thatsaid mobile communication device is locked; responsive to determiningthat said mobile communication device is locked, process said candidatebiometric; receive second input from said key; determine that saidsecond input does not comprise candidate biometric; determine that saidsecond input comprises an indication of a depression event from saidkey.
 14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 whereinthe instructions further cause the processor to: determine that saidmobile communication device is locked; and responsive to determiningthat said mobile communication device is locked, ignore said indicationof said depression event.
 15. A mobile communication device comprising:an input device including: a key; and a biometric input device integralwith said key; and a processor adapted to: receive first input from saidkey; determine that said first input comprises a candidate biometricfrom the biometric input device and then: determine that said mobilecommunication device is unlocked; responsive to determining that saidmobile communication device is unlocked, ignore said candidatebiometric; receive second input from said key; determine that saidsecond input does not comprise candidate biometric; determine that saidsecond input comprises an indication of a depression event from said keyand then: determine that said mobile communication device is unlocked;and responsive to determining that said mobile communication device isunlocked, process said indication of said depression event.
 16. Themobile communication device of claim 15 wherein said key comprises aspacebar.
 17. The mobile communication device of claim 15 wherein saidbiometric input device comprises a fingerprint scanner.
 18. The mobilecommunication device of claim 15 wherein said key comprises a key topand a key plunger.
 19. The mobile communication device of claim 18wherein said biometric input device comprises a scanner, a flex boardand a flex connector for connecting said scanner and said flex board toa mobile communication device main circuit board.
 20. The mobilecommunication device of claim 19 wherein said scanner is mounted flushwith an exposed surface of said key top.
 21. A method of handling inputfrom a key of a mobile communication device, said method comprising:receiving first input from a key; determining that said first inputcomprises a candidate biometric from a biometric input device integralwith said key and then: determining that said mobile communicationdevice is unlocked; responsive to determining that said mobilecommunication device is unlocked, ignoring said candidate biometric;receiving second input from said key; determining that said second inputdoes not comprise candidate biometric; determining that said secondinput comprises an indication of a depression event from said key andthen: determining that said mobile communication device is unlocked;responsive to determining that said mobile communication device isunlocked, processing said indication of said depression event.
 22. Themethod of claim 21 wherein said processing said indication of saiddepression event further comprises arranging insertion of a spacecharacter in a document being edited.
 23. The method of claim 21 furthercomprising: receiving an indication of a locking trigger event; andresponsive to said receiving said indication, locking said mobilecommunication device.
 24. The method of claim 23 wherein said indicationof said locking trigger event comprises an indication that said mobilecommunication device has entered a protective covering.
 25. The methodof claim 21 further comprising storing, on the mobile communicationdevice, a policy specifying requirements for unlocking the mobilecommunication device.
 26. A non-transitory computer-readable mediumcontaining computer-executable instructions that, when performed by aprocessor in an electronic device, cause the processor to: receive firstinput from a key; determine that said first input comprises a candidatebiometric from a biometric input device integral with said key and then:determine that said mobile communication device is unlocked; responsiveto determining that said mobile communication device is unlocked, ignoresaid candidate biometric; receive second input from said key; determinethat said second input does not comprise candidate biometric; determinethat said second input comprises an indication of a depression eventfrom said key and then: determine that said mobile communication deviceis unlocked; responsive to determining that said mobile communicationdevice is unlocked, process said indication of said depression event.